Oscar Branning, portrayed by Pierre Counihan-Boullier, in ‘Eastenders’, has to be one of TV’s most problematic characters in decades. Oversexed and manipulative, he represents the bisexual representation problem. In fact, he embodies it. Flitting between two lovers, Jasmine and Josh, who both happen to be twins, he goes to one- or both- of them when they’re having some kind of emotional problem. Essentially, he can sniff out their vulnerability, and uses that to his sexual advantage. And there’s little conscience there, no accountability whatsoever. He’s a wrong ‘un.
Okay, he’s a Branning, so you could argue that that’s his default, in his DNA like philandering father Max, who, to quote Lenny Bruce, “would find a manhole and do it to the ground” when lonely. But this combination of predator and “unable to pick a side” has long been a trope in film and television.
Look at Sharon Stone’s character, Catherine Tramell (above, with Roxy) in ‘Basic Instinct’. Rather than a fully fleshed -out, multifaceted woman who just happens to find whoever she finds attractive, she panders to the male gaze, is hypersexual and dangerous, a loose canon and not to be trusted. Some praised her willingness to exploit her sexuality on her own terms, citing her cunning as survival instinct. Critics, though, said she merely reinforced stereotypes. Paul Verhoeven, though, what do you expect? Nuance???!
Then there’s the ever unsubtle ‘Game Of Thrones’. This one I will admit to not having watched, ever. I’ve got a problem with gendered violence, having experienced it firsthand. I’ve heard there’s rape in every episode. And I’m not a fan of fantasy as a genre anyway. No thanks. But in my research of iconic characters, I have seen many a clip and image of Prince Oberyn Mantell, played by the extremely easy on the eye Pedro Pascal. He’s sexy, he’s villainous and (of course) he’s thrustingly bisexual. Yawn.
Then, there’s the late Tim Curry and his legendary Frank -N- Furter. Brad, the groom’s not enough, he has to “toucha toucha touch”.the wife Janet too. He’s badass, so he’s forgiven, but it does give me pause to see if we’ve progressed since the seventies. Probably not. Assumptions still exist.
In essence, we’re not to be trusted. This trope has been reinforced so many times, it made it hard for me to come out for the longest time. And the “are you sure you’re bi?” judgment on us, if we’re in a relationship with someone of the opposite sex. We can’t win. I knew I found women attractive the first time I saw a Marilyn Monroe film as a kid, but I liked John Taylor too. Confusing times for me, growing up in a small town.
Oscar Branning’s shifty character does not help the cause, with his predatory behaviour, hypersexuality and lies. It’s like 1992 all over again. Pan isn’t just a type of bread now. If only screenwriters could keep up.
